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Many of the women I work with have a difficult time quieting the thoughts, letting go of worries, or putting aside their perpetual to-do list. I invite you to try this basic relaxation technique to calm the nervous system, quiet the thoughts, and relax. For me, I find this technique particularly helpful when I am still wound up from a stressful day and need to get some sleep. For most if not all, negative self-talk such as, “why can’t you sleep, you know you’re exhausted” rarely lead to actual sleep but rather frustration and increased arousal. Perhaps try this different approach…

As an oncology social worker in the Breast Center at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, I often talk with women who complain of insomnia, fatigue, and foggy head. When we have slept well we feel better prepared to face the challenges of the day, make good decisions, concentrate, and take care of ourselves. “Sleep debt” is the idea that if we have not slept well for one night, this will have an adverse effect on how we function the next day. If we have not slept well for several nights in a row, or for several weeks in a row, this effect increases and can greatly reduce our quality of life.